Michigan's Jim Harbaugh was in N.J. to deliver a commencement speech. Of course, we asked him about Rutgers. Watch video
NEWARK -- After accepting an invitation last April to speak at the Paramus Catholic commencement, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh dismissed a question of whether speaking at a New Jersey high school would create a unique -- and possibly awkward -- situation for Rutgers.
"You said obviously it does,'' Harbaugh said in response to a NJ Advance Media question. "I don't agree that that's obvious.''
Prior to speaking at the Paramus Catholic commencement Thursday night at the Prudential Center, Harbaugh was asked something similar.
Our question: It's not every day when a Big Ten coach comes into their state to deliver a commencement speech at a New Jersey high school that they recruit at. Does it even matter to you that Rutgers fans, or even some Rutgers coaches, would be bothered by that?
"Yeah, I've given thought to that,'' Harbaugh said in a lounge prior to the graduation ceremony. "It's certainly not my intention to offend anybody. It's not my intention at all in any form or fashion.''
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Harbaugh has made New Jersey an emphasis on the recruiting trail since arriving at Michigan, landing five Garden State prospects in the 2016 recruiting class. No school has been emphasized more than Paramus Catholic, which sent former Paladin stars Jabrill Peppers and Juwann Bushell-Beatty to Michigan prior to Harbaugh's arrival.
Shortly after his arrival in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 2015, Harbaugh lured then-Paramus Catholic head coach Chris Partridge to be his recruiting coordinator. Partridge, who was promoted to linebackers/special teams coach this past winter, was considered a key factor in Michigan's signing of Rashan Gary, the Paramus Catholic defensive tackle who is widely viewed as the nation's top defensive line prospect.
"I love the way they do things," Harbaugh said of Paramus Catholic on Feb. 3 after landing the North Jersey school's star player. "I have great respect for everyone involved. After the hospitality we were shown while on campus this winter, you can expect a long, trusting friendship with them.''
That "friendship'' has been evident this spring, starting with Paramus Catholic's announcement in April that Harbaugh would serve as commencement speaker, continuing with Harbaugh's decision to tap the Paladins' home fields as the site for the Metropolitan area's lone Michigan satellite camp, and extending to Wednesday's announcement that Michigan Stadium would be the site of a Paramus Catholic football game next September.
"I'm going to have four students at Michigan -- that's the connection,'' Vail told NJ Advance Media earlier this week, dismissing the notion that he has helped foster a Paramus Catholic-Michigan pipeline. "You support your students. I never watched college football in my life; if I watched two games in the last few years, that was a lot. I support players from my school.''
While he took plenty of heat for standing by his decision to bring Harbaugh to New Jersey for his school's commencement, Vail insisted it was overblown.
"I've had very prominent Republicans speak at graduation and I've never had the Democrats have a lynch mob against me and (vice versa),'' he said. "I've had former governors, major public figures and some who might have been controversial in the world. But everybody was always happy about it.
"Of course, our people are very happy about it. The average person in our school is certainly pleased with it. (Harbaugh speaking) certainly bring a lot of attention to our commencement, which will attract a greater recognition to all of our graduates. Maybe I'm naive or I'm not as much of a sports guy, but I didn't see this as something that would be seen as a shot or would offend anybody.''
Just before presenting Harbaugh with an honorary degree, after Harbaugh delivered his remarks to the school's 411 graduates, Vail couldn't help referencing the fervor.
"Thank you, Mr. Harbaugh. I can't believe you have any critics in the great state of New Jersey,'' he said, tongue firmly planted in cheek. "I don't understand that.''
Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.
